This I shall, with my income from here and my income from
the estate itself, probably be able to make in ten years. The
estate, with the twenty-five thousand dollars I propose to risk in
drainage, etc., ought then to be worth one hundred thousand
dollars. The value of this estate of fifty thousand acres, with the
flocks and herds, ought to be at least double that amount; so that
at the end of ten years I shall be a rich man. You, with care, can
certainly save twenty-five thousand dollars each in the ten years,
and will receive another fifty thousand dollars each as your share
of the estate. You will consequently, boys, at the age of
thirty-one and thirty-two, be able to settle down in England in
very comfortable circumstances. Your sisters will of course be
provided for out of my share. Do you approve of my plans?"
The boys warmly expressed their satisfaction at the plan, and their
gratitude to their father for his intentions.
And so things were carried out.
Six months after Mr. Hardy's arrival in England, the boys heard of
Maud's marriage to Mr. Cooper, now, by the death of his father, a
wealthy country gentleman. Charley, during his first visit to
England, also married--an example which Hubert followed the next
year.
The two now took it by turn to manage the estate--the one in
England always passing a considerable portion of his time at Mr.
Pages:
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367